The Women for the Environment WE Africa is inviting applications for their 2024 WE Africa Leadership Program. Their goal is to empower women leaders in Africa who are passionate about the environment.
About WE Africa Leadership Program
WE Africa Leadership Program was created because we noticed a problem: the environmental challenges we face, like the loss of biodiversity and the climate crisis, also reveal a lack of diversity in leadership. We believe it’s crucial to address this issue urgently.
One of the programs they offer is called WE Lead. It’s a 12-month leadership experience for women environmental leaders in Africa. The program was designed by experts in leadership and developed together with previous WE Africa participants since 2021. It focuses on personal leadership, well-being, building relationships for collaboration and peace, making a visible impact, and thinking creatively.
After completing the WE Lead program, participants become part of the WE Move community. This community allows them to continue making a difference through collective action and supporting future participants.
Benefit
The WE Africa Leadership Program offers several benefits:
- Membership in a community: You become part of a community of dedicated and knowledgeable African women who are currently leading in the environmental field. These women have a wealth of experience and expertise to share.
- Personalized leadership coaching: Throughout the WE Africa Leadership Program, you will have access to one-on-one coaching sessions with experienced leaders. They will help you develop your leadership skills and guide you on your individual journey.
- Creating a new leadership vision: The program provides an opportunity for you to envision a new direction for your leadership journey. You will have the chance to identify your goals and aspirations and work towards achieving them.
- Personalized leadership development: The WE Africa Leadership Program supports you in pursuing activities that are tailored to your specific leadership development needs. This ensures that you receive guidance and resources that align with your vision and goals.
- Online sessions: There will be weekly online sessions that are designed to complement your work and provide additional learning opportunities. These sessions may include discussions, presentations, and workshops to enhance your leadership knowledge and skills.
- In-person retreats: The WE Africa Leadership Program includes two in-person retreats where you will have the opportunity to connect with other participants on a deeper level. These retreats focus on community-building and offer a space for personal and collective growth.
Requirement
The WE Africa Leadership Program is designed for individuals who can relate to the following thoughts:
- If you have been leading an organization for a long time but feel that you lack certain essential leadership skills that would make you a more inclusive, collaborative, and effective leader.
- If you have lost your sense of identity and beliefs, feel exhausted, and want to regain your energy and motivation.
- If you feel isolated in your environmental work and desire a supportive community that can provide guidance and encouragement.
- If you love your organization but are considering transitioning to other work, and you want to ensure the long-term success and sustainability of your organization.
- If you believe that collaboration, trust, and resource-sharing are crucial for making greater progress in your work, and you are seeking like-minded leaders who are willing to support each other.
- If you are concerned about maintaining the well-being and happiness of yourself and your team in a demanding and high-stress field.
- If you have a vision for the future of your organization, where African leaders, especially women, play a significant role, and you want guidance on how to make that vision a reality.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the WE Africa Leadership Program 2024 yearlong transformative leadership journey, you need to meet the following criteria:
- You should be an African national, currently holding citizenship in a country in Africa, or have had permanent residency in Africa for a minimum of 15 years.
- You should have at least 8 years of experience working in the environmental sector in Africa. This experience can be in the government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), or the private sector. Additionally, you should have served in a senior leadership role for at least 3 years.
- You should be actively engaged in various aspects of the environment, including but not limited to the green economy, climate action, pollution, biodiversity and community conservation, indigenous rights and the environment, environmental policy and law, environmental journalism and science communication, and social entrepreneurship.
- You should be committed to investing in your personal growth and actively participating in the entire 12-month program.
- You should have a track record of mentorship and a desire to support future environmental leaders.
- You should have reliable internet access throughout the entire 12-month program.
- You should be able to manage your schedule to attend a weekly online session that lasts for approximately 2 hours at a specific time.
- You should have conversational proficiency in English, as the program is conducted in English.
- You should be willing to contribute approximately $2000 USD toward the program cost and your travel expenses for the retreats. This amount represents around 15% of the total cost per person.
- *Note that If you do not meet the requirements mentioned in the second point above, you may explain your eligibility in the application and, if accepted, may be asked to provide a letter from your employer supporting your participation in the weekly online sessions.
Timeline
Key Dates. Please note the timeline for this year’s application review process:
- 3 July – Application Open
- 15 August – Deadline for Application Submissions
- 19 September – Final Round Top 30 Candidates Notified for Interviews
- Mid-October – Final Round Interviews Conducted
- 13 November – Public announcement of 2024 Fellows
** A limited number of scholarships are available to help offset costs for selected applicants.
How to apply
To apply for the WE Africa Leadership Program 2024, Open the application link, enter your email address, and click next to start your application
Overview
Types of opportunity: Leadership program
Deadline: August 15
Open to: African women
Duration: The program is a yearlong transformative leadership journey.
Organizer: Women for the Environment WE Africa
Country: Africa
Inquiry
- To learn more about WE Africa Leadership Program yearlong transformative leadership journey, please watch the introduction video https://youtu.be/tTbHFKHI_bY and also watch https://vimeo.com/702027
- You can also watch videos of past WE 2022 graduates to get insights into their experiences: https://vimeo.com/781259421
- If you have any questions specifically related to the application, you can contact the WE Africa team at: applications@womenforenvironment.org.
- You can visit the official WE Africa website
